Retirement Planning Q&A

Q: I’m trying to decide when to retire. Can Social Security help?
A: The best place to start is with a visit to the
online Social Security Statement. The statement provides you with estimates of benefits for you and your family as well as your earnings record and information you should consider about retirement and retirement planning.

The “right” time to retire is different for everyone and depends on your individual situation. To help you make your own decision, we offer an online fact sheet, When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits, that highlights some of the factors to consider. This publication can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html.

Q: I’m trying to figure out how much I need to save for my retirement. Does the government offer any help with financial education?
A: Yes. For starters, you may want to find out what you can expect from Social Security with a visit to Social Security’s Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

The Financial Literacy and Education Commission has a website that can help you with the basics of financial education: www.mymoney.gov. Finally, check out the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which offers educational information on a number of financial matters, including mortgages, credit cards, retirement, and other big decisions on their website at www.consumerfinance.gov.